Kouhei was on an ideal career path. After his university graduation, he joined a company in Tokyo, and within a few years, he already became known as the go-to person for making things happen. Whether it was navigating tough projects or leading high-performing teams, Kouhei had it all: the connections, the trust and the track record that made him an invaluable asset.

So when the opportunity came to turn the Bangkok branch around, Kouhei saw it as the next big challenge—a chance to prove himself and return to the Tokyo headquarters with an even bigger role waiting. It was a no-brainer. Without hesitation, he packed his bags, ready for the next step in his global leadership journey.

The Thai Triumph: A Thriving Expat Leader:

Kouhei was unstoppable in Thailand. From the moment he arrived, he built strong relationships, elevated the performance of the local team and forged an unbreakable bond with the headquarters in Tokyo. His ability to adapt and bring both cultures together took the Thailand branch from struggling to a success it had never seen before. The company's growth in the region was unprecedented, and Kouhei became the shining example of a leader who could not only manage but transform.

He was on top of the world, with his eyes set on the next big challenge—and that’s when the company moved him to Germany.

The Germany Struggle: A Leadership Crisis:

The expectations were high. The German branch had been in the red for a while, and the company was looking to Kouhei to turn it around, just like he had done in Thailand. Motivated and full of determination, he was ready to replicate his success. But the culture shock he experienced in Germany was unlike anything he had faced before.

Despite his best efforts, Kouhei found himself isolated, with strained relationships between him and the staff. His leadership style, which had been so effective in Thailand, simply didn’t resonate in Germany. He couldn’t break through, and trust was difficult to establish. His confidence began to crack as the frustration mounted.

He started to feel devastated—nothing he tried had any fruit, and people started to complain and gossip about him. Kouhei felt like a failure—a feeling he was not familiar with. For years, he had been a leader who had been praised as a success and with a brilliant future—but now, he couldn’t even get his team to listen. Worse, the relationship with Tokyo headquarters started to weaken as well. He was excluded from important meetings, left out of key projects and felt forgotten by the company he gave everything he had.

The Darkest Moment: A Leader on the Edge:

Being in his downward spiral, Kouhei considered quitting. He felt alone, his credibility shattered, and his self-worth in tatters. The leader who had once been the go-to person was now the outsider, a man who couldn’t even lead his own team. He couldn’t escape the heavy feeling that he had lost his face.

As he didn’t have any results in Germany, he was transferred back to Tokyo. And even his return to Japan didn’t bring relief. He was hoping to rebuild himself in the very place where he had once thrived but he found himself facing the same ghosts as in Germany. His reputation was tarnished, and his peers avoided working with him. The weight of failure was suffocating, and he was trapped in a cycle of self-doubt and hopelessness.

The Turning Point: Reclaiming Confidence:

At his lowest, Kouhei reached out to us for help. He was on the edge, but he was determined not to let his story end this way. The process wasn’t easy. We started by working through the limiting beliefs he had absorbed from his time in Germany—thoughts that had woven themselves into his nervous system: “I’m a failure. I can’t lead anymore. I don't have what it takes anymore. I’ve lost my edge.” These thoughts had consumed him, and it was time to reprogram his mindset.

We also worked through the re-culture shock Kouhei had experienced upon returning to Japan. The tension between his old self and the version of himself that had felt defeated was palpable. But step by step, through our guidance and support, Kouhei confronted his fears, embraced his strengths again and started rebuilding his confidence.

The Unbelievable Comeback: A Global Role Model:

Kouhei’s transformation was nothing short of remarkable. He not only regained his confidence and drive, but he rediscovered his passion for leadership. He no longer saw himself as a failure, but as a leader with valuable lessons to share. He went from doubting his abilities to leading with boldness and vision.

Today, Kouhei holds a global position, leading a diverse team spread across the globe. His experience in Thailand, Germany and Japan gave him a unique perspective on leadership, one that balances empathy, cultural understanding and strategic vision. He now inspires leaders across continents, and his journey from struggling to thriving is the blueprint for any expat leader facing adversity.